title: Predicting the value of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) as an indicator of functional ability in older Iranian adults (Kahrizak elderly study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the appropriateness of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) in predicting functional ability in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited from the Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutritional and ability status were examined using the MNA and the Barthel Index (BI). Participants were divided according to MNA (≤ 23.5 and > 23.5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirty-five ≥ 60-year-old subjects were studied. The MNA and BI were positively correlated (r = 0.199; P = 0.001). The optimal cut-off point for BI with the highest sensitivity and specificity derived from the ROC curve was approximately 91.5 for males and 83.5 for females. The BI was significantly associated with MNA (odds ratio (OR): 1.89; 95% CI: 1.17-3.05, P = 0.009), mobility (OR: 6.39; 95% CI: 3.43-11.89, P < 0.001), consuming ≥ 2 servings of fruit and vegetables (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.72, P = 0.02) and self-view of nutritional status (OR: 4.15; 95%CI: 1.26-13.63, P = 0.01). The sensitivity (62.9% in males; 68.2% in females) and specificity (51.4% in males and 52.9% in females) of these cut-off points justifies the appropriateness of the MNA for determining functional ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MNA is potentially able to verify functional status among the elderly (as BI ≥ 91.5 with those of < 91.5 in males and ≥ 83.5 with those of < 83.5 in females) of KCF. It is suggested that this relationship should be further studied in a larger prospective population-based study.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirarefin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fakhrzadeh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nazari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghaderpanahi
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Badamchizade
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tajalizadekhoob
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012737:Sex Factors